Global small-ads colossus Google is trialling a small battery-powered camera drone of a type previously used by the UK police and special forces, according to reports. It's thought that the flying spyeyes might add a new dimension to the company's controversial "Street View" picture database, compiled by fleets of camera cars …

#Spy Sats, Cars and now Planes??

Nostalgia.

The likes of The Beano hark back to the days when no kid would be seen out without a catty in his back pocket, for those serendipitous moments that a target of opportunity and a handy pebble/conker/acorn/sheepshit would be found together.

Looks like those days may be about to return.

Off now to find a cleft stick and nick a piece of 'laccy from my mum's sewing box.

UK Laws

Have a good read of CAP722 - Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace – Guidance.

Google have an awful lot of rules and regs to comply with if they have designs on using these things to do extensive mapping of the UK. I'm sure most of the civilized, sorry that should be bureaucratic - world has similar rules and regs.

Oh and @Fred4 - in the UK at least the answer to your initial question would be none. As above, so below. You have no rights to mining on your property either. Ask Al Fayed. ;)

Google XSSXXXXdD Up

That were it to be so, reveals that they would lack a credible future intelligence system that adventures in HyperRadioProActive IT, and thus would be a Juicy Lucy of a Servering Client and Supply Giant.

And that's very Tasty and Thoroughly Arty .... Tarty too.

Imagine the information on the wishes of women that the Internet has, and search delivers. That is pure raw core power, for primitive man knows little to nothing of another species desires and craven feed needs.

Quite why they would deny themselves the Pleasures is Surely an Undeniable Sign of a Current Present Madness.

Shitstorm generator

It might be fun to try taking control when they are flying their drone close to something sensitive and land it inside the military base or embassy concerned..... Directional antenna, RC controller, downlink receiver, etc.

The Technology To Counter This Threat Is Already Out There !

Enter the USB missile launcher.

There may be some other interesting encounters :-

Birds of prey attacking these things,

Domestic pets such as cats and dogs catching them if too low.

So when you google to a skyview and get an up close of 'Ginger' the tom you know that it's not quite tangoed, but almost certainly mangled. Could prove embarrasing if 'Ginger' takes the contraption inside as a gift for his human as cats do ! Doris from number 47 caught with the milkman, again, even though she shops at Waitrose !

Haven't they learned anything...

... from their recent Street View fiasco? If I where them I'd be laying low, instead of playing with spy drones. I can just imagine seeing one of those things floating outside my window, maybe while I'm complaining about Google, or... *quickly glances out window*. They are trying to map the world on the ground and from above. How about below; drones that scour the plumbing.

Haven't they learned anything... #

Many Angry Idiots...

so after the conclusion Jumpers have all thrown a wobbly, lets post some proper thoughts...

I do not believe these will be used to image in the same way Microsoft do. (so people calm down) in MS that have already done it! without you even noticing....

I do believe these will be used to extend street view to popular places that are not so easily accessible by the gCars for example Trafalgar square. if you want to be able to see it properly on SV it needs more view points all across the square, the easiest way to capture these may be by drone. likewise parks, and well known paths on open ground like say national parks. the coast to coast walk etc...

so once again, I say CALM down dear. Put your pitchforks away, you can all sleep safely, knowing that Google probably wont destroy the world today.

...and one big useful idiot

Honestly what you believe that Google will do with the data is irrelevant. Now think of this, imagine that instead of Google spying on everybody and taking pictures with their drones everywhere it was the government (pick the one you hate the most). Wouldn't that be an outrage? (Let's not discuss whether the governments are already doing that in secret.) So why do I have to be happy when Google does it? Because they are nicey and googly and do no evil? My a***

Daily Mail

cant wait for the day you can dial one up and get it to mosey around the neighour hood remotely by web control! - extra cool if it had loud speaker too!

as others have commented, the Daily Mail will go ballistic when they hear about this one!?

"think of the children" before you know it paedos, perverta and immigrants will be ruling the skys and threatening the very fabric of society... of course unless the Jones'es get one and then it will be next years must have! (after all, if you have nothing to hide...)